Brighton bumper summer: Fabio Hurzeler makes ‘£200m transfer decision’
Brighton look set for a significant summer windfall after Fabian Hurzeler put sizeable price tags on two of his star players.
Brighton are no strangers when it comes to extracting maximum value for their star players, the most recent example being the £115million sale of Moises Caicedo to Chelsea, a British transfer record.
However, the Seagulls took a break from their sell high, buy low transfer policy last summer, twice equalling their own record with the additions of Yankuba Minteh and Mats Wieffer for £30m apiece.
They then smashed that record late in the window by shelling out £40m to sign Georginio Rutter from Leeds in August, and the Frenchman has lived up to the billing with eight goals and five assists so far.
With Hurzeler’s side still firmly in the hunt for a Champions League place and sat seventh in the Premier League table, the world’s richest clubs will once again be circling ahead of the summer transfer window.
Brighton set £200m Baleba, Joao Pedro transfer stance
Having sold Caicedo, Marc Cucurella, Ben White and Alexis Mac Allister among others for big money in recent years, it’s no surprise to see the world’s most well-monied clubs looking at Brighton’s star men.
However, talkSPORT reported on 1 April that Brighton have resorted to putting £100m price tags on both Joao Pedro and Carlos Baleba this summer, in an effort to ward off interest from the likes of Chelsea.
| Player | Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists | Yellow/Red Cards |
| Joao Pedro | 26 | 21 | 8 | 7 | 4 |
| Carlos Baleba | 31 | 29 | 3 | 2 | 7/1 |
Premier League champions-in-waiting Liverpool are also keen on Baleba as Arne Slot looks to bolster his likely title-winning midfield, with Football Insider revealing on 1 March that he is now their top target.
Former Manchester United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown also told Football Insider that Pedro – signed for £30m from Watford in 2023 – has his sights set on a move to Anfield if he’s to leave Brighton.
Brighton set for summer windfall despite transfer message
Clubs already beginning to sound out the possibility of signing Baleba or Pedro won’t be entirely put off by £100m valuations for each of the pair, particularly those who will have money to spend this summer.
Chelsea and Liverpool are set to rear their heads, while Brighton have already dealt with Saudi Pro League interest in their best players, rebuffing major bids for Kaoru Mitoma over the winter window.
Teams know very well indeed that Brighton are a club happy to sell at the right price, and with a potential Champions League campaign to prepare for, it remains to be seen if both Baleba and Pedro are still at the Amex Stadium next season.